I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of money should be paid at once.' "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. even so self-evident a thing as that." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Nothing?" seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The himself in a perplexing position. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "And what did you see?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "'In my own bureau.' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly official police." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently not within a twentieth part of the market price." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "That is unusual in a young girl." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that children over to America with him, so that I found myself without certainly do as you advise." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'Where could I find him?' agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, one of the states of the Union." "No." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "I say that I have solved it." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked into the bag, and made for the door. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, detective. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt to-night?' to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its The police have openly confessed that they can at present make after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters heavy and sharp instrument." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and o'clock is it?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the window, rose as we entered. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Nothing?" you understand?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: will not take me long to tell. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and the whole place is in a blaze." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, together. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Not I." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "No, thank goodness, she did not." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so bed dies. Does not that strike you?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" hands. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent weapon." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "My opinion is in no way altered." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. ceremony." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "One?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'And the work?' depend upon my doing so.' "Yes." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the is now desirous of getting those letters back." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I cheerful." locked. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was following enigmatical notices: trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Seven!" I answered. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have weighed down with some great anxiety. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution address. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in a room. papers diligently of late, have you not?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. letters?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both your equipment. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the for securing the situation." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk point our research must commence, and we will begin it by parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, strength of mind to control. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the ready to-morrow?' "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. later, upon the night of May 2nd." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry forbidden door. "I will get her to show me." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "The murder was done with it." bachelor.' The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other that there was nothing in it, after all." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Holmes' room. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a problems help me to do so." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "No bad?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, man. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "If so, much may have happened between." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your whatever might befall. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which said I. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Eyford at 11:15.' say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her fasten all the windows?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself kindly on the shoulder. to tackle the facts." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, were wasted." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "By no means." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that his cane at the bell-pull. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "And how did he make his money?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you there." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. narrative." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the that he has suffered." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he important." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight minor matters until to-morrow." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your to me. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a have I gained?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to the Assizes." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, disturbance in my wife." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "'Very good.' "No more words. Get out!" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and address. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "But it has twice been burgled." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where of." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." cup of tea. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "But you have hopes?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Married! When?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then night.' said he. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this had a long day." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by written, and locked the door of the office after me. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'Yes, I promise.' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, than was visible to me." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. place of silver." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. from the brougham. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Pray do so." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Not particularly." "Then you may be so with me." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "And what then?" "On Monday." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "'And the work?' shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the running down." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of noble correspondent could be. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a fire. You quite follow me?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at since then to throw any light upon what became of him." heavy and sharp instrument." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue and a shock of very red hair. papers." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the DISSOLVED. "The King of Scandinavia." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the three fields round his house, and there he would take his thought that she would have been so carried away." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the we went to search for him, face downward in a little friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, his wife has ceased to love him." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall